Monday, September 24, 2018

Unwanted Promotional Call and SMS - Want to cut down ?

I have been always wondering how come all banks in India know my mobile number? These banks or their so called agents cum executives keep calling every day at least 2 to 3 times in a day despite the fact that my number was registered for DND with full block category since 2016. No matter how many times you ask them to stop, talk in rude manner no impact. Once my number was there in the system, it will call you with energetic tone to offer their product -- "Personal Loan", "Credit Card". On top of it off late I started receiving SMS as well.

Tired of everything , was looking for some option to stop it. Out of all these calls one was very irritating and disturbing was from Bajaj Finance. All I can imagine that this call was originating from Delhi, NCR location. I shared these details of unwanted call to Bajaj Finance customer care, their grievance department and to the last escalation level i.e MD. All the time I got a response that my concern has been forwarded to concerned department and call will be stopped in next 28 hours. Never mind they still kept calling and still calling. So frustrated from Bajaj Finance that I don't even consider buying any product related to Bajaj group now( this I conveyed to their MD) as well in email.

while doing search on google, I got to know that I can complain for unwanted call through SMS to 1909 in some specific format. This can be found at TRAI website. I tried this option and it wasn't that convenient as you need to copy the number and put dates in specific format when the call was made. You get a tracking number which wasn't easy to remember at all. I was getting updates within 7 days after lodging the complain, but update didn't have enough information what action were taken.

Then I got to know about DND 2.0 app from TRAI. Initially when I downloaded on my Android app, it didn't work, was unable to sign in despite providing all details. Later I updated my smart phone with latest updates available for android OS. Again I downloaded the DND app, this time DND app worked.

This app was very convenient for me to lodge a complain, not only for voice call but also to SMS. The moment I get a call for personal loan, I will cut the call immediately and go to the app and report the complain. This app has list of call logs and sms logs, all you need to do is select a specific call and select the category of unwanted call, put some description about call and submit it. So easy !!!!. You get tracking details of your complain through sms. It appears that app displays the status of last 10 complaints made.

The best part of the app is that you get the status of your complaints made with enough description of resolution. for example it shows that subscriber has been disconnected based on my complaint. If complaints aren't resolved, it shows the reason as well like CDR not matched( not sure what does this means) etc.

Overall with the help of app, I have been able to report the unwanted call very quickly and this has reduced the call significantly by almost 80% in my case. I still get call but once or twice in a week. I am hoping this will further go down.